A Healthy Church

A Vision of a Healthy Small Church -- a PC(USA) reprint

A small membership congregation is healthy

when it has a sense of adventure and curiosity, and a desire to mature spiritually.

when it measures the effectiveness of it's life by its vision. and it's witness to the gospel.

when the worship of God becomes it's daily life.

A small church is healthy

when it listens and responds to the will of God

revealed in scripture and guided by the Holy Spirit;

when it celebrates its unique qualities as well as its connection with people everywhere;

when its ministry comes from Christ our Sovereign and Savior, to help people discover their power , strengthen their commitment and practice an all-inclusive love.

A healthy small church can celebrate its unique identity an face honestly its struggles for survival; it benefits from denominational affirmation and pursues cooperative relationships, both denominational and ecumenical.

A small church is healthy when it encourages the spiritual growth and draws on the diverse gifts of its members, trains its leaders, encourages stewardship and accepts responsibility for its own particular mission.

A small membership congregation is healthy

when it fosters hospitality, reaches out to those who are hurting;

when it is open to a variety of models of pastoral leadership and care and is willing to make changes in ways that help it meet the needs of the people in worship, education, nurture, fellowship, evangelism and mission.